Wizard Magazine - No More.

[Tawmis]

Anyone heard about this?

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/01/...+News+&+Rumors

Now this is an end of an era.

I am receiving multiple confirmations from across the industry, through none yet from Wizard’s higher ups and PR people yet, that Wizard: The Guide To Comics, the magazine that covered the mainstream comics industry for twenty years and created all manner of careers in the process has closed, effective immediately. Or at least the print version has.

Almost all Wizard magazine staff have been laid off, and all freelance engagements cancelled.

Sister magazine Toyfare, covering the toy market, has not been affected, nor have the Wizard comic conventions.

Created by Gareb Shamus and Stephen Shamus in 1991, the magazine carved a niche for itself covering the most commercial comics in the most aggressive fashion. At one point it regularly sold more than the comics it covered. But sales have declined of late, as the internet has grown in prominence and favour for this kind of news. For many Wizard is no longer the news breaker and agenda setter of the comics industry it once was. And people still have issues with the tone it has taken over the years. Even though it’s arguable that the last couple of years have seen some of the best Wizard content since it started.

But right now it’s time to bury that pointy hat…

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/01/...c-goes-public/

busy day of Wizard news today. As per pr, Wizard World Inc. is going public, will continue producing pop culture conventions, and launch a digital magazine:

New York, NY (January 24, 2011) – Gareb Shamus, recently appointed President and CEO of public company Wizard World, Inc. (“Wizard World”) (OTC: GOEE.PK), today announced that the Comic Con Tour, which consists of pop culture conference events that provide high visibility marketing opportunities to pop culture brands and companies in multiple venues throughout the year, is now being produced by public company Wizard World. The Wizard World Comic Con Tour intends to cover 12 cities in 2011, including major cities such as New York City, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Austin and New Orleans. The Tour will include sponsors ranging from major movie studios and TV networks to gaming and toy companies to content publishers.

In addition, Wizard World plans to launch in February 2011 an all-new digital magazine called ‘Wizard World’ that will appeal to pop-culture fans, the same audience to which Mr. Shamus has catered to, for over 20 years. Wizard World digital magazine will provide coverage of the world of comic books, toys and superheroes, and the personalities behind them.

“This is a very exciting day for Wizard World and the industries it serves,” said Shamus. “Having the Tour produced by a public company provides additional opportunities to expand and grow the Tour. The new digital magazine Wizard World will give consumers the content they want in a magazine format with which they are familiar, but distributed in a form that is always available at any time on any device. It is a natural evolution for us in this market.”

Wizard World Comic Con will begin its North American tour at New Orleans Comic Con held from January 29 to 30, 2011. The full event schedule can be found at www.wizardworld.com.
About Wizard World:

Wizard World is a producer of pop culture and multimedia conventions across North America that markets movies, TV shows, video games, technology, toys, social networking/gaming platforms, comic books and graphic novels. It has the rights to the names, marks, domains, customer lists and production rights for a portfolio of pop culture and multimedia conventions.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release relating to Wizard World’s future plans, expectations, beliefs, intentions and prospects are “forward-looking statements” and are subject to material risks and uncertainties. When used in this press release, the words “will”, “future”, “expect”, “look forward to”, similar expressions and any other statements that are not historical facts are intended to identify those assertions as forward-looking statements. Any such statement may be influenced by a variety of factors, many of which are beyond the control of Wizard World that could cause actual outcomes and results to be materially different from those projected, described, expressed or implied in this press release due to a number of risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur. A detailed discussion of these factors and other risks that affect our business is contained in our SEC filings, including our most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, particularly under the heading “Risk Factors.” Copies of these filings are available online from the SEC or by contacting Joe Favorito at (917) 566-8345 or fatherknickerbocker1@yahoo.com. All information set forth in this press release is current as of January 24, 2011. Wizard World undertakes no duty to update any statement in light of new information or future events.

http://blog.newsarama.com/2011/01/24...magazine-dead/

Though nothing official has come through from Wizard or owner Gareb Shamus, there are multiple reports, including Bleeding Cool, saying the magazine has shuttered.

Our own calls to Wizard’s listed public relations phone number go unanswered, and their “bullpen website” is down, listed as under maintenance mode. The Subscriptions page on WizardUniverse.com gives a 404 error as well.

Johnston speculates ToyFare and the multitude of Wizard conventions will continue on. Shamus has come under heavy fire in the last several years, with reports of non-payment of freelancers, mail fraud from the Wizard store, and hefty layoffs, all while purchasing more comic book conventions in his own name.

UPDATE

We’ve just received a Press Release from Gareb Shamus announcing his intent to launch a digital magazine called “Wizard World” in February 2011, and a 12-city convention tour. While there’s no explicit mention of the print magazine in the release, this serves as functional confirmation of the print monthly’s end. Full Press Release follows:

GAREB SHAMUS UNDERTAKES PUBLIC COMPANY WIZARD WORLD, INC. AND LAUNCHES NEW ONLINE PUBLICATION ‘WIZARD WORLD’

New York, NY (January 24, 2011) – Gareb Shamus, recently appointed President and CEO of public company Wizard World, Inc. (“Wizard World”) (OTC: GOEE.PK), today announced that the Comic Con Tour, which consists of pop culture conference events that provide high visibility marketing opportunities to pop culture brands and companies in multiple venues throughout the year, is now being produced by public company Wizard World. The Wizard World Comic Con Tour intends to cover 12 cities in 2011, including major cities such as New York City, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Austin and New Orleans. The Tour will include sponsors ranging from major movie studios and TV networks to gaming and toy companies to content publishers.

In addition, Wizard World plans to launch in February 2011 an all-new digital magazine called ‘Wizard World’ that will appeal to pop-culture fans, the same audience to which Mr. Shamus has catered to, for over 20 years. Wizard World digital magazine will provide coverage of the world of comic books, toys and superheroes, and the personalities behind them.

“This is a very exciting day for Wizard World and the industries it serves,” said Shamus. “Having the Tour produced by a public company provides additional opportunities to expand and grow the Tour. The new digital magazine Wizard World will give consumers the content they want in a magazine format with which they are familiar, but distributed in a form that is always available at any time on any device. It is a natural evolution for us in this market.”

Wizard World Comic Con will begin its North American tour at New Orleans Comic Con held from January 29 to 30, 2011. The full event schedule can be found at www.wizardworld.com.

UPDATE #2

Albert here. Just got an e-mail from Jerry Milani at Wizard World PR, confirming that ToyFare is also ending publication:

Wizard Entertainment is ceasing publication of the print magazines Wizard and ToyFare. Wizard World, Inc. will begin production of the online publication “Wizard World” beginning in February. We feel this will allow us to reach an even wider audience in a format that is increasingly popular and more readily accessible.

[Phil]

I used to read it back before I had internet access but then when I started getting most of my news online it seemed to be descending into toilet humour and ass-kissing of particular creators/companies, rather than finding ways of competing.

I did like some of the sketchbooks and #0 / 1/2 issues they gave us though.

I don't read any magazines in print these days though, so I don't think it's just Wizard. News is no good 30 days old.

[Tawmis]

I agree, it was over priced and I rarely picked it up. (Even less so when the comic store had it available for anyone to look at - a used copy that they used themselves).

But it's just another thing that's gone/going to digital media. CDs have all but vanished in the wake of MP3's/iTunes. Record stores hardly even exist anymore. One of my favorite publications - and the only thing I ever subscribed to - DUNGEON MAGAZINE - went to digital (at which point I stopped, since I prefer hard copies in my hand). Bookstores are starting to falter in the wake of the Kindle and all those ebook readers.

I am trying to guess when it is comics will go COMPLETELY digital as well.

Which would then have the ripple effect of demolishing comic book stores, making them shut down in time, and thus making back issues nearly impossible to find.

[suzene]

I am trying to guess when it is comics will go COMPLETELY digital as well.

Which would then have the ripple effect of demolishing comic book stores, making them shut down in time, and thus making back issues nearly impossible to find.

With the way the Big Two are digging in their heels when it comes to actually selling digital comics -- as opposed to renting them for nearly the same price as a physical copy -- I wouldn't worry too much about it. And even if the brick-and-mortar comic stores shut down, there will always be online sellers like Mile High and My Comic Shop.

[Tawmis]

With the way the Big Two are digging in their heels when it comes to actually selling digital comics -- as opposed to renting them for nearly the same price as a physical copy -- I wouldn't worry too much about it. And even if the brick-and-mortar comic stores shut down, there will always be online sellers like Mile High and My Comic Shop.

Well, I think if things keep pushing - I think digital comics WILL come down in price - as they begin to test the market.

As for online sellers - all good and fine - but places like Mile High Comics don't have dollar bins to look through. Which is my current addiction. I am so disappointed in the majority of new comics I have actually gone back and begun collecting things I was either interested in or had a few issues of (POWER MAN & IRON FIST, ROM, etc) - all of which are in the dollar bins. A very inexpensive hobby vs the current new comic crap.

[Legerd]

With the way the Big Two are digging in their heels when it comes to actually selling digital comics -- as opposed to renting them for nearly the same price as a physical copy -- I wouldn't worry too much about it. And even if the brick-and-mortar comic stores shut down, there will always be online sellers like Mile High and My Comic Shop.

I wouldn't be too worried for the LCS, the ones I go to have long ago branched out into other hobbies like RPG's, statuettes, figurines, dvd rentals, etc. They'll be around even if comics go 100% digital, and the dollar bins will be there until the day comes that old comics have entirely disappeared.

[Flightpath07]

As for online sellers - all good and fine - but places like Mile High Comics don't have dollar bins to look through

They do have some cheaper comics, and a person can literally spend days and even weeks pouring through what they have for sale - it is actually quite the exciting place to hang out!

[Le Messor]

I'm planning to write a sci-fi novel at one point where one of the features will be that nothing - books (prose, novel, or comic), cards (playing or greeting), or musics will be available physically.

I dread that time (though it will be a generally hopeful book).

- Le Messor
"I estimate there is a world market for about five computers."
~ Thomas Watson, Head of IBM, 1943

[Tawmis]

I wouldn't be too worried for the LCS, the ones I go to have long ago branched out into other hobbies like RPG's, statuettes, figurines, dvd rentals, etc. They'll be around even if comics go 100% digital, and the dollar bins will be there until the day comes that old comics have entirely disappeared.

Yes, but I'd like to point out that a lot of RPG things are going to digital format... big guns like DRAGON magazine went to digital format only, as well as the sister DUNGEON magazine (which is a shame, as it's the only thing I have ever subscribed to).

[Legerd]

Yes, but I'd like to point out that a lot of RPG things are going to digital format... big guns like DRAGON magazine went to digital format only, as well as the sister DUNGEON magazine (which is a shame, as it's the only thing I have ever subscribed to).

True, but they haven't learned to digitize figurines, dice, statuettes, mapping materials and other side products yet. There are still plenty of products the shops can sell besides comics and magazines.

[Tawmis]

True, but they haven't learned to digitize figurines, dice, statuettes, mapping materials and other side products yet. There are still plenty of products the shops can sell besides comics and magazines.

The figures, true. But even Wizard of the Coast offers a dice roller on their website, and there's more than a handful of free iPHONE apps that are dice rollers for D&D (and there's others that cost that... I suppose could somehow how more features, merely than rolling every D&D dice imaginable). But there's even some map makers out there... I know, because I use one for my PBEM that I have been running since like 1998!

[Legerd]

The figures, true. But even Wizard of the Coast offers a dice roller on their website, and there's more than a handful of free iPHONE apps that are dice rollers for D&D (and there's others that cost that... I suppose could somehow how more features, merely than rolling every D&D dice imaginable). But there's even some map makers out there... I know, because I use one for my PBEM that I have been running since like 1998!

A purist like myself would never use a dice roller, only the real thing will do, and when I say mapping materials, I mean the erasable plastic maps the DM uses for the figurines, water soluble markers, etc. Any of the physical items needed to play a RPG will still be used even if all the source materials go digital. Maybe one day RPG's will be played entirely on a computer screen, but I don't see that happening any time soon.

[Le Messor]

A purist like myself would never use a dice roller, only the real thing will do, and when I say mapping materials, I mean the erasable plastic maps the DM uses for the figurines, water soluble markers, etc. Any of the physical items needed to play a RPG will still be used even if all the source materials go digital. Maybe one day RPG's will be played entirely on a computer screen, but I don't see that happening any time soon.

Same is true of comics and music.
Personally, I've bought several perfectly legit songs from iTunes - but I still track down the CDs. I've decided I don't like having just a computer file.
Others don't.

I hope comics and CDs and RPGs last a long time.

- Le Messor
"I have a degree in liberal arts; do you want fries with that?"

[Tawmis]

A purist like myself would never use a dice roller, only the real thing will do, and when I say mapping materials, I mean the erasable plastic maps the DM uses for the figurines, water soluble markers, etc. Any of the physical items needed to play a RPG will still be used even if all the source materials go digital. Maybe one day RPG's will be played entirely on a computer screen, but I don't see that happening any time soon.

I am with you on the dice. Me and some co-workers are going to try to get a 2nd Edition D&D game going; and despite having dice rollers on my iPhone, I brought my dice.

But I am sure at one point, someone probably never thought that cassette tapes would go to CDs... then from CDs to MP3s... to no more record stores.
Even book stores are suffering, many going under now, because of things like the Kindle.

The purists like you are I are a dying breed, my friend.

[Legerd]

The purists like you are I are a dying breed, my friend.

Yes sir, that we is.

Things may be dark now, but everything goes full circle. I mean vinyl is making a comeback now! Who'd a thunk?